The Secret Book

Teresa Glad

My name is Teresa. I am one of the big ones. At least I think so, no one else sees it. Children are a people and live in a foreign country, a man sings with a smooth voice on the radio. All the adults enjoy hearing it, but I get mad. I don’t live in a foreign country. I live at the J yard in Orminge. Across the yard lives Torbjörn. He’s my best friend. He has kind eyes, a blue hat, and corduroy pants his mother has sewn.

Teresa finds it complex to be a kid. There are so many rules on how to be and what to do, like participate in after-school activities even though you don’t want to, or walk around barefoot because it’s good for your feet. Although Teresa feels grown up, she’s afraid of everything, like loud noises, inflatable balls, and growing. She’s most afraid of gigantomastia; a disease which makes your breasts never stop growing. She has read about it in granny’s medical encyclopedia.

Honest, warm and with a great portion of humor, Teresa Glad portrays the existential sides of childhood – to relate to a group and oneself, to do forbidden things, feelings of shame, the joy of friendship, and the fascination for everybody’s differences.

Teresa Glad is an illustrator, animator and writer, and teaches at Sörängen’s junior college. Her previous work, Old Men (Farbröder), is nominated for the Nordic Council Prize for best children’s book 2023.

Press voices

” Theresa Glad balances between nostalgic flashbacks of an all but pink shimmering childhood at the same time as she creates a relevant story for today’s children.” Barnens Boktips

“Theresa tells a story about fun and happy things, problems and fears. The book is filled with simple drwaings that are full of expressions.”  Barometern

 

     

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